Bears’ Jeffrey Simmons trade should only be the first NFC North domino to fall

The NFC North is stacked with all four teams currently having a winning record.

This division is likely going to be a battle until the final week of the season. Monday night, the three other teams in the division got to see how the Chicago Bears are going to be set up for the stretch run and it had to terrify them all.

In their first game since their blockbuster trade for star defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons, the Bears manhandled the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on the road. Simmons was a monster in his Chicago debut, making the team feel pretty good about their decision to send two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for their defense changer.

Now, the other three teams have to respond by making big moves of their own. They might not all match the Simmons’ deal in terms of star power, but aggression is needed around the NFC North.

Here is a move each of the 6-2 Bears’ rivals can make before Tuesday’s trade deadline:

The Lions are 5-2. They could use some help on defense, though. Linebacker is an obvious concern with the injuries to Jack Campbell and Jimmy Rolder. So a pursuit of a tackle machine like Jordyn Brooks of the Miami Dolphins could make sense. But we’re going to look at the secondary for the Lions. They have had a need since they released 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold in the summer because of legal reasons.

So, we’re going to pair the Lions with Philadelphia Eagles’ cornerback Riq Woolen. He may be the best cornerback on the market and he could make an impact with Detroit. He won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks last year, so he knows how to play in important games. Woolen is 6-foot-4 and is a matchup concern. Plus, he is a free agent after the season, so he could come at a reasonable price. It wouldn’t be a Simmons-like get, but Woolen would make the Lions better and that’s the whole point of adding at the trade deadline.

The 5-3 Packers have been rumored to be interested in Indianapolis Colts’ running back Jonathan Taylor. That’s understandable with what is going on with running back Josh Jacobs. But acquiring Taylor might be complicated for the Packers. So, we’re going elsewhere for their deadline addition.

It may not be as sexy, but Green Bay needs an upgrade on the offensive line. So, we’re looking at the Eagles again. Howie Roseman is always open for business. So, the Packers should push for guard Landon Dickerson. He is a solid sixth-year pro and he would be an upgrade for a solid offense that needs help up front. Dickerson, 28, will be a free agent in 2028. But a third-day draft pick could do the trick for Green Bay. Again, this isn’t an earth-rattling acquisition, but the Packers would be better with Dickerson.

Here’s the blockbuster.

No, we’re not sending Kirk Cousins to the Vikings. That would be too pricey for the value.

Taylor is the call here. He’s what the 6-1 Vikings need.

Taylor could change the Minnesota offense and make life easier for quarterback Kyler Murray. An offense featuring wide receiver Justin Jefferson and a tailback like Taylor would be dangerous. Coupled with the Vikings’ defense, this team would be a legitimate Super Bowl threat and they would put pressure on the surging Bears.

The price tag may be multiple premium draft picks, but it would be worth it for the Vikings to make this deal.